Get Off My Lawn!
Get Off My Lawn!
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
A chaotic, fast-paced throwing game where less clutter means victory.
Overview
Ideal # of Participants: 4+
Where to Play: Indoors
Age of Participants: Elementary School / Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 20 to 45 Minutes
Materials Needed: As many soft, throwable objects as possible! (dodgeballs, toilet paper rolls, pool noodles, stuffed animals, etc.)
How to Play Get Off My Lawn!
To set up Get Off My Lawn!, divide a large space lengthwise, creating two long, wide sides. This gives players more room to spread out and throw safely. Gather as many throwable objects as possible. These should be items that can be thrown several feet without hurting someone if they are hit unexpectedly. The exact objects don’t matter much, as long as they are safe.
Evenly divide both the players and the objects between the two sides of the space. On the count of three, both teams begin throwing objects onto the other team’s side. Both teams throw at the same time, meaning objects will be flying nonstop in both directions. The only goal is to move as many objects as possible off of your side and onto the opposing team’s side.
After a predetermined amount of time, the leader loudly calls “Freeze!” Everyone must stop immediately. Leaders then count how many objects are on each side of the space. The team with fewer objects on their side wins the round.
Scoring Variations
After a few rounds, you can add an extra layer of strategy by assigning different point values to different objects. For example, smaller or lighter objects might be worth one point, while larger or harder-to-move objects could be worth more. This often leads to a frantic scramble near the end of the round as teams try to get rid of the highest-value objects before time runs out.
Keep track of which team wins each round. After about 30 minutes, the team with the most round wins is crowned the champion.
Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “Get Off My Lawn!” Lesson Handout (PDF) below!
Where Games Meet God's Word...
Most leaders just look for games to play, but miss their true value. When used well, games help teach your lesson, because experiential learning is by far the most effective way to teach a lesson that sticks.
If you want to see this principle in action, check out Uplift, our FREE youth group lesson that is built for engagement. It contains a fun game, but then your students’ experience from the game ties into the Christ-centered message you’ll teach.
